10 Best Sounding Albums Of All Time

Feature Photo: Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I think it’s fair to say that, for many people in their 60s and above, their first introduction to music was either from record albums that their parents or older brothers and sisters had in the house, or quite simply from hearing a song on AM radio. When you’re 10 years old, you really don’t have the funds to buy your own music, and you’re pretty much just coming into your own place in awareness of the world around you—and music isn’t always the first thing on your mind. Nonetheless, as time starts to march on, 10 turns to 11, 11 turns to 12, and many of us start to really discover music by hearing songs constantly on the radio.

The quality of AM radio, of course, does not deliver the perfect auditory experience, but that’s not what we were listening for. We were listening to songs about people being alone, streaking, not rocking the boat, and, of course, going to California. Eventually, we started to buy the vinyl records, and that’s where, for many of us, we might have first noticed sound quality.

The songs always came first, but as we began to collect record albums, I think it’s probably reasonable to say that we did start to notice that some albums sounded better than others. We didn’t always understand why, but we could hear it. The first time I noticed incredible sound quality was when I purchased Elton John’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The sound of those guitars on that first track made me think I had a better stereo system than I realized I had. As many of us grew older, we started to become more aware of why something sounded good—noticing producer credits, musicians, recording studios. Of course, some of us dug deeper than others.

All of our top 10 lists are extremely subjective, and this one may be the most subjective of them all. As I put together this list, I noticed that about half of them came out in the mid-’70s. I am sure the reason behind that is because that was a time when I was really becoming aware of music and falling in love with an art form that I would make a living with for the rest of my life. So there is definitely bias here. Nonetheless, these are incredible-sounding records. But they’re only 10 of them. There are hundreds and thousands more. This article is just meant to entertain and to showcase some really good-sounding records.

If the songs are not great, then it won’t matter how good the album sounds because no one listens to an album that’s just not that good more than once or twice. Yet when the songs are great but the albums don’t sound that good, it becomes almost a chore to listen to them. However, when an artist releases an album of great music that is also spectacularly produced and engineered brilliantly, it becomes one of those albums that we play hundreds, if not thousands, of times throughout our life. That’s what this list is about.

I did run into a major quandary when I was composing this article. That was the debate as to whether or not to include remastered versions, or the expensive Mobile Fidelity versions, or any of the other fancy-dancy reissues that record companies have come up with over the years. I decided to only include the original vinyl or CD releases to keep it fair and to help showcase the artist’s original vision. I also didn’t want to rule out original CD releases because there was a point in time when record companies stopped releasing albums on vinyl—it was just on CD. So there are a few of those on here too.

One more thing: since this is about sound quality, I didn’t want to limit it to just pop or rock. I wanted to include jazz, because actually in the ’80s, that’s when we started to really hear definite improvements in sound quality and recording techniques that only CDs could present. I’m not going to get into the whole vinyl vs. CD thing here, but I will just say this: every audio release is unique, whether it’s on vinyl or CD, and in the end, I will never argue whether vinyl sounds better than CDs or vice versa, because I really think it comes down to individual releases. So here we go…

# 10 – Black And Blue – The Rolling Stones

Opening this list with the Rolling Stones, I think, is quite interesting because the Stones never were really known for putting out high-quality audiophile discs. That’s not what their music was about. Their songs, their recordings, are dark, dirty, and of course, phenomenal. The Rolling Stones are not a clean-sounding band. They are a rock and roll blues band at their core, and the blues is not supposed to sound clean—because it just wouldn’t sound organic. Nonetheless, in 1975, the Rolling Stones released what would be their first and only reggae-influenced album. This is a major milestone in the Rolling Stones’ career because it’s the first time that their new guitar player, Ronnie Wood, would play on a record. The sound quality on this one is impeccable, starting with the very first track, “Hot Stuff.”

What makes “Hot Stuff” sound so good is the sound of Charlie Watts’ drums. This is a really important point to make right off the bat. Ask any seasoned record producer or engineer what makes a great-sounding album, and they will tell you it’s the sound of the drums. If the drums don’t sound good, the album’s not going to sound good. Listen to the way Charlie Watts sounds on “Hot Stuff.” The next point—and this is another really important point—is to listen to how much space surrounds Charlie Watts at the beginning of that song. This is one of the reasons the Rolling Stones’ albums never sounded like audiophile masterpieces—because there was always so much going on. And believe me, what was going on was spectacular; those are great albums.

Black and Blue is probably their most sparse-playing album. It’s because that’s what the music called for. I also think Black and Blue is probably their most overlooked album. It’s really a masterpiece. Songs like “Hot Stuff,” “Fool to Cry,” and of course the masterpiece “Memory Motel,” make this one of the most memorable Rolling Stones albums ever released—and probably also the best-sounding one. Although Hackney Diamonds does sound pretty great.

# 9 – Takin’ It To The Streets (1976) – The Doobie Brothers

As we continue with this list, we move on from 1975 for the moment, one year later in 1976, when the Doobie Brothers released Takin’ It to the Streets. I remember placing this album on my vinyl turntable in ’76 and being blown away by the sound of those guitars on the track “Wheels of Fortune.” Almost 50 years later, it still sounds as good. Takin’ It to the Streets marked a significant shift in the Doobie Brothers’ sound and lineup, introducing Michael McDonald as a full-time member after founding member Tom Johnston had to reduce his role due to health issues. The album was released on March 19, 1976, and signaled the beginning of the band’s move toward a more soul-influenced, keyboard-driven style.

No, of course not everyone was happy with this. In every article I have published about the Doobie Brothers, there’s always constant feedback from people who did not like the change in the sound of the band. I for one was very happy with it. I thought there was still that rock and roll sound from the early years, which can be found on the title track that I’m talking about, but there was also this incredible-sounding voice and soulfulness that Michael McDonald brought to the band that I—and millions of other people—fell in love with, because this was a phenomenally successful album. Why did it sound so good? Well, first off, the songs are great, the playing was phenomenal, and the man who produced it, Ted Templeman, was one of the best producers in classic rock history.

# 8 – Over-Nite Sensation (1973) – Frank Zappa

I have my old friend John Tabacco to thank for this one. John was in my music theory class in high school. We didn’t know each other that well at first, but he noticed that I was always talking about rock and roll—and probably not always making a lot of sense. He invited me over to his house one day after school and said, “Listen to this.” He placed headphones on my head and played this album. It was one of those enlightening experiences for so many reasons, from what I heard. We became good friends and still are to this day. John Tabacco became an extraordinary musical artist who has released an unbelievable catalog of great albums and music. He is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. He knows music.

Of course, Frank Zappa was always a pioneer in music in so many ways. That topic is beyond the scope of this article. There are probably many more CDs he released in the ’80s and ’90s that sound better than this because of the technology that would develop. Nonetheless, there is something really special about this album—and it’s not just because of the personal history behind it for me. I think if you ask anybody who’s ever listened to this record, they will agree that this is one of the best albums and best-sounding albums Frank Zappa ever released.

# 7 – Light Years – The Chick Corea Elektric Band

# 6 – Blue Matter – John Scofield

The very point that I made on the first entry in this list—Black and Blue by The Rolling Stones—finds its way front and center again on this album. That point is the sound of the drums, and this release just possibly may be the album that defines the most impactful drum sound I have ever heard on a recording. Holding down that drum chair was the phenomenal Dennis Chambers. The sound of his drums is so intense, so heart-shattering, that it still blows my mind every time I drop the CD into my CD player. I bought the vinyl recording second, and it sounds just as good—although I think I still prefer the CD. This is one of those instances where people argue about what sounds better, vinyl or CD, and while the vinyl does sound great, CDs at the time were leading-edge technology, and Gramavision Records really mastered this one perfectly.

The album was recorded in September 1986 at Mediasound Studios in New York City. Blue Matter featured an elite group of musicians that helped shape its hard-hitting sound. Scofield led the charge on electric guitar, joined by the thunderous Dennis Chambers on drums, Gary Grainger on electric bass, Mitchel Forman on keyboards, and percussionist Don Alias adding texture and energy throughout. Hiram Bullock contributed rhythm guitar on three tracks: “Blue Matter,” “Now She’s Blonde,” and “Make Me.”

Produced by Steve Swallow, with executive producer Jonathan F. P. Rose overseeing the project, Blue Matter was engineered and mixed by Joe Ferla and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk in New York. The production captured the explosive dynamics of Scofield’s playing while showcasing Chambers’ drums in jaw-dropping clarity. If you dont have this album, you’re missing out on one of the best-sounding recordings and most exciting fusion albums ever released.

# 5 – Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder

This is about Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life album. I’m not sure if there ever was an album that won as many awards as this album did when it was first released. And let me tell you, my friends, it deserved every single one of them. Yes, of course, rock and roll fans at the time—including myself—were a little upset at how many he won with this one and who it blocked. But then again, we were pretty young. We really didn’t understand certain things, like just how brilliant this recording was.

Songs in the Key of Life was released on September 28, 1976. The double album—along with a bonus four-track EP titled A Something’s Extra—was the culmination of two years of recording, writing, and producing. Sessions took place at Crystal Sound in Hollywood, the Record Plant studios in both Hollywood and Sausalito, and The Hit Factory in New York City. The album was produced entirely by Stevie Wonder and released on Tamla Records, a division of Motown. The fact that Stevie Wonder wrote all the songs, music and lyrics, performed all the songs, and then produced the album in a way that made it sound like it was blowing your speaker cones out of the wood enclosures that held them together just completely blows my very simple mind.

The personnel on Songs in the Key of Life was expansive and included a who’s who of musicians from various genres. Alongside Stevie Wonder—who handled vocals, keyboards, drums, and more—were contributions from George Benson (guitar), Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Nathan Watts (bass), Greg Phillinganes (keyboards), Raymond Pounds (drums), and so many others.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Stevie Wonder the first American artist to do so. It stayed at the top of the chart for 13 consecutive weeks and remained on the chart for over two years. The singles “I Wish” and “Sir Duke” both hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, while other tracks like “As,” “Another Star,” and “Isn’t She Lovely” became enduring staples of Wonder’s catalog. In 2005, the album was certified Diamond by the RIAA, signifying over 5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone.

Read More: Top 25 Stevie Wonder Songs

# 4 – Song For My Father – Horace Silver

Choosing Song for My Father by Horace Silver to represent the iconic sound of Blue Note Records on our list of the 10 best-sounding albums of all time was no easy task. The label’s catalog is filled with sonically pristine, artistically significant recordings that all deserve recognition. But this 1965 release stood out to us—not just for its warmth and clarity, but for the remarkable influence of the title track, “Song for My Father,” which went on to inspire the unmistakable opening riff of Steely Dan’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” As a site deeply rooted in classic rock history, that musical cross-pollination alone made it a meaningful choice. More than that, this is a meticulously recorded album, engineered at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with that signature Blue Note spaciousness and fidelity that we’ve often highlighted throughout this list. The sonic architecture of the record gives every instrument room to breathe, a textbook example of the jazz mantra that “less is more.”

The album was recorded across three sessions on October 31, 1963; January 28, 1964; and October 26, 1964. Produced by Alfred Lion, Song for My Father features two iterations of Silver’s quintet. On standout tracks like the title cut, “Que Pasa,” and “The Natives Are Restless Tonight,” Silver is joined by Carmell Jones on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Teddy Smith on bass, and Roger Humphries on drums. Earlier sessions featured Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Junior Cook on tenor saxophone, Gene Taylor on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums. The ensemble is tight, with Silver’s piano guiding the flow—lyrical, dynamic, and deeply expressive. Critically, the album has been hailed as one of the greatest hard bop recordings of all time. It’s a record that doesn’t just define a moment—it defines the timeless clarity, soul, and swing that Blue Note captured better than anyone.

# 3 – Nothing Like The Sun – Sting

I remember the day that a friend of mine and I walked into Jimmy LaLumia’s record store in Ronkonkoma, New York, to purchase the new Sting album. Jimmy LaLumia, who was a legendary punk rocker from the 1970s with his band Jimmy and the Psychotic Frogs, was trying to explain to me and my friend that …Nothing Like the Sun was not a double album, but it wasn’t a single album either. This was during the early days of CD releases, and albums were being extended beyond what we normally bought. Of course, this would bring up the issue of pricing, and I think that’s what Jimmy was trying to explain to us—why it was priced a little more. All I know is I remember taking it home with me, putting it on my turntable, and once again being completely blown away by the sound of the instruments. There was so much separation between the bass, guitar, and drums that it felt like the band was playing in my room. This was brilliant production.

Nothing Like the Sun, expanded on the jazz-influenced sophistication of his debut with an even broader musical and lyrical range. Released on October 13, 1987, the album was recorded between March and August of that year at Air Studios in Montserrat, as well as in Paris and London. Sting co-produced the album with Hugh Padgham and Neil Dorfsman.

The personnel on the album reads like a who’s who of top-tier session and jazz musicians. Sting performed lead vocals, bass guitar, and keyboards, and was joined by notable artists such as Branford Marsalis on saxophone, Kenny Kirkland on keyboards, and Manu Katché and Omar Hakim on drums. Other contributors included Eric Clapton, who played guitar on “They Dance Alone,” and Mark Knopfler, who lent his distinctive guitar style to “History Will Teach Us Nothing.” Andy Summers from The Police also made a guest appearance. The album’s production highlighted Sting’s vision of atmospheric layering, wide stereo imaging, and crisp instrument separation that made it a showcase for audiophile-quality sound during the early era of CDs. It still sounds better than almost any other CD I have ever heard.

…Nothing Like the Sun peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and reached number nine on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The singles “We’ll Be Together,” “Englishman in New York,” “Fragile,” and “Be Still My Beating Heart” all received significant airplay. The album earned three Grammy nominations in 1989, including Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

# 2 -Aja – Steely Dan

Is there anything left to say about Aja that hasn’t already been written or praised over the past several decades? Since the day it landed in record stores in 1977, Aja has been revered as one of the most brilliantly recorded albums in music history. But for musicians, it became something of a musical bible. Back when many young players were learning their craft by spinning vinyl on home turntables, the precision and musicianship found on this record became a standard to strive for—one that only a handful would ever come close to reaching. While the album has since been remastered and reissued in every imaginable format—from CD to Mobile Fidelity editions—what we’re talking about here is the original release. The one you picked up off the shelves in a glossy cardboard sleeve that felt just as refined as the music inside. And what sound it delivered. The clarity. The separation. And yes, the drums. Steve Gadd’s performance on the title track is not only perfectly recorded by producer Gary Katz—it’s a masterclass in musical phrasing and rhythm. It remains one of the most studied drum performances in modern music.

Aja was recorded between January and July 1977 at several studios including Village Recorders in Los Angeles, Producers Workshop in Hollywood, and A&R Studios and Sound Labs in New York. The album was produced by longtime Steely Dan collaborator Gary Katz and engineered by Roger Nichols, who would become synonymous with Steely Dan’s signature high-fidelity sound. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker brought together an elite team of session musicians to realize their intricate jazz-rock vision. Among the roster were Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, and Steve Khan on guitar, Joe Sample and Michael Omartian on keyboards, and Chuck Rainey on bass. Drummers included Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, Ed Greene, and Jim Keltner. The level of musicianship on this album was and remains simply unparalleled.

The album reached number three on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum shortly after its release. Critics lauded the album not just for its complexity and polish, but for the seamless way it blended jazz harmony with pop accessibility. It won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical, and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Songs like “Peg,” “Deacon Blues,” and the title track “Aja” became instant classics. Every detail on this record—from the tight horn arrangements to the pristine vocal layering—was obsessively refined. Yet for all its complexity, the album still grooves, still swings, and still resonates emotionally with listeners.

To this day, Aja remains a reference point for audiophiles and musicians alike. It’s not just one of Steely Dan’s best albums—it’s one of the greatest-sounding records ever released.

# 1 – Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John

Many people would argue that Aja actually deserves the number one spot on this list. It’s a pretty strong argument—one that I actually just kind of made in the previous paragraphs. But like I said in the introduction, these top 10 lists are always very subjective, and much of that subjectivity, when it comes to the arts, is based on personal experiences. I mean, is there any other art form that’s more personal than music?

Nonetheless, this is a review website, and I wanted to be honest here. So while Aja is an incredible sounding album, there is just something extra special about this one. I don’t think any Elton John fan would disagree with me when I say that Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is not only Elton John’s best-sounding album—it’s his best album. And if you want to argue that point, well, you can also talk to Elton John about it, because he has said the same thing.

I’ve written about this so many times on this website that I don’t want to repeat myself, but there are a couple of key moments on this recording that stand out. The first moment is the opening guitar sound of “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.” The second moment is when Nigel Olsson and the rest of the band jump into the mix after the first verse—it’s incredibly moving. And then there are many other moments on the record. I love how the band jumps in on “Tower of Babel.” Gus Dudgeon’s drum techniques and the drum recording sounds are almost indescribable.

I’ve worked with many great drummers in the past, and they all talk about the sound of Nigel’s drums. One also must remember that it’s not just the recording technique—it’s not just the mics, it’s not just the engineers—it’s also the tuning of the drums. That is an art form in itself. Ask any professional drummer about that, and they will nod their head in agreement.

This album wins in so many categories—from packaging to artwork and, of course, the songs themselves. Without Bernie’s lyrics and Elton’s incredibly original, creative melodies, none of this would matter. But it does. And this is easily, at least for me, the best-sounding album of all time—and quite possibly my favorite recording, period. It doesn’t matter that it’s mine. What matters is that I’m not alone when I say that, and that there are probably millions of other fans who would agree.

So what are yours?